Ministry of Immigration and Corrections
Directorate General of Immigration
Amsterdam – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam), Mahfud MD, and Minister of Law and Human Rights (Menkumham), Yasonna Laoly, met former Student with Service Bonds (MAHID) in the Netherlands. They had a dialogue on the issue of past human rights violations as well as immigration, citizenship and repatriation policies. In the meeting, Mahfud explained that currently the government has issued Presidential Instruction Number 2 of 2023 on the Implementation of Recommendations for Non-Judicial Settlement of Serious Human Rights Violations. "Based on Presidential Instruction Number 2 of 2023, the verified victims can visit Indonesia more easily. The victims are given convenience in obtaining immigration services to visit Indonesia," said Mahfud at the De Schakel Meeting Building, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Sunday (27/08/2023). In line with the Presidential Instruction, Yasonna Laoly explained that the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) has just issued the Decree of Minister of Law and Human Rights No. M.HH-05.GR.01.01 of 2023 on Immigration Services for Victims of Serious Human Rights Violations on August 11, 2023. According to Yasonna, based on the existing policy, victims who have been verified has ease of access in obtaining immigration services to repatriate or visit Indonesia. This means that with the existing regulations, former MAHID and victims of past serious human rights violations living abroad can get visa application, residence permits and re-entry permits services for free. "Based on the existing regulations, victims of gross human rights violations living abroad can get free services to apply for visas, residence permits and re-entry permits." "The fee is zero Rupiah," said Yasonna, who was also accompanied by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Andap Budhi Revianto. To get the services, former MAHID must submit an application to the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in the work area where they live. Furthermore, the Indonesian Embassy will follow up by forwarding the application to the Central Government. Visa applications for former MAHID are granted by the Menkumham or the appointed Immigration Officer after receiving a recommendation from the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights on Sunday, August 27, 2023 issued for the first time a re-entry visa to Indonesia to one of the former MAHIDs named Sri Budiarti. The citizenship status of majority of the former MAHIDs in the Netherlands is no longer Indonesian, and most of them are not Indonesian students who studied and assigned in the Netherlands since the beginning, but rather former MAHIDs from other countries. Around 50 former MAHIDs attended the meeting in person. In addition to former MAHIDs from the Netherlands, representatives of former MAHIDs/exiles from Moscow, Beijing and Bulgaria also attended in person, while dozens of others attended online. Yasonna explained that if the former MAHIDs wanted to reacquire Indonesian citizenship, the application process can be done while they are in Indonesia. "To regain Indonesian citizenship status, you can process it while you are in Indonesia," said Yasonna. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK), the Team for Non-Judicial Settlement of Past Serious Human Rights Violations (PPHAM), the Special Staff of Minister of Law and Human Rights for Foreign Relations, the Director of Immigration Stay Permits, the Director of Human Rights Communication Services, and the Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands.
Last updated 03 December 2024
